Device for supplying flushing liquid to the collecting mains of coke ovens



Oct. 25, 1955 F. DOLL ET AL 2,721,573

DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING FLUSHING LIQUID TO THE COLLECTING MAINS OF COKE OVENS Filed Oct. 15. 1951 JnVen/ors: PAUL VAN ACKEREN FRANZ DOLL M). ?0'M ATTORNEY United States Patent DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING FLUSHING LIQUID TO THE COLLECTING MAINS OF COKE OVENS Franz Doll and Paul Van Ackeren, Essen, Germany, as-

signors, by mesne assignments, to Koppers Company, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application October 13, 1951, Serial No. 251,226

Claims. (Cl. 137-113) The present invention relates to the systems'for supplying flushing liquid to the gas collecting means of coke ovens.

It is usual that the valves, in the. ascension pipes carrying the gas evolved-in the oven chambers to the collecting main, be treated with ammoniacal liquor to keep them free of tarry deposits and; simultaneously to flush out and cool the main. The ammoniacal liquor is generally taken off from a separator, arranged outside the oven plant, by means of anelectrically-operated pump.

If the liquor flow ceases, orthe pump breaks down, or for any other reason the supply of.v flushing liquid is interrupted, the temperature in the collecting main is liable to rise, in a very short time, to such an extent that the collecting main is subjected to considerable expansion and its fluid-tightness, particularly at the junction between the ascension pipe and the oven top, is, impaired, leading to serious damage.

If, then, the usual supply of ammoniacal liquor is liable to interruption it is necessary to ensure that an alternative flushing liquid is immediately available. For this purpose the collecting; main, is, usually connected to a conduit from the towns water supply mains. The fact that the supply of flushing liquid into-the collecting main has stopped is often not realised, however, until the collecting main begins to smoke, that is.v when the aforementioned damage to the. collecting main andv the ascension pipes has already occurred. Moreover, sudden access of cooling liquid-to the hot collecting main results in non-uniform cooling and. consequent: dislocation of the parts. It is also not satisfactory to combine the towns water conduit and the ammoniacal liquor conduit into one, so that when the ammoniacal liquor supply ceases towns water can be fed to the collecting main, for instance by operating slide valves, since resumption of the ammoniacal liquor supply produces, the danger, that the towns water conduit may be contaminated by ammoniacal liquor.

It is an aim of the. present invention to provide a device which, on failure of the ammoniacal liquor supply to the collecting main, automatically allows another flushing liquid under pressure, e. g. water from the towns water mains, to be conducted to the collecting main.

In solving this problem, the present invention uses a control device in the form of a coupling conduit which is connected both to the ammoniacal liquor conduit and to the conduit for the reserve liquid. (e. g. towns water) and contains flow controlling means which is subjected to the pressures of the two alternative flushing liquids in such a manner that, if the ammoniacal liquor supply fails, the, change in effective pressure operates the device to open the way for flow of the reserve liquid to the collecting main and shut off the ammoniacal liquor conduit. The coupling conduit comprises a primary inlet conduit connection, a secondary inlet conduit connection, and an intermediate outlet conduit connection.

Advantageously the device incorporates a flow controlling means in the form of a movable piston means ice which. is normally subject to the oppositely-acting pres? sures of theammoniacal liquor of the primary inlet connections and the reserve flushing liquid of the secondary liquid inlet connection, the piston faces of said means against which these opposed pressures act being dimensioned andarranged so that when the ammoniacal liquor is being forwarded in normalfashion, its effect is to overcome the reserve liquid pressure of the towns water supply andkeep the piston means ina position in which the passage for ammoniacal. liquor to the intermediate collecting main outlet connection is, kept open and the reserve liquid or towns water supply is. cut oil. Should the ammoniacal liquor supply. fail, the opposite result will takeplace, the pressure of the towns water supply moving the piston means to open the way for the passage of this water to the collecting main.

Conveniently. we may use a double-acting piston and cylinder assembly, the two. flushing liquids from the two inlet connections having access to the respective-piston working faces, which are rigidly interconnected, such that the liquid from the line exerting the greater pres: sure on itspiston face will open its passage to the outlet connections and thus have access to a conduit leading to the collecting main. Such piston faces may be combinedin one movable unit.

By a further feature of the invention, such a double,- acting piston is arranged-to have, at one side, its full surface available to the action of one of the liquids, whilst at the other side the pressure, of the other liquid is only effective, on an annular, offset surface of the piston, and is provided at this latter side with an extension which is mounted in fluid-tight fashion in the cylinder.

To take care of any imperfections in the sealing be.- tween the sides of the piston and its surrounding guide surface, and thereby prevent penetration of the ammoniacal liquor into the towns water conduit, the invention further provides a drain element in the form of a free annular space between the two working faces of the piston, this being connected through an opening or openings with the hollow interior of the piston, so that any liquid under pressure entering this space, front the inlet connections on either side, escapes through this piston interior into a drain.

A further feature of the invention resides in the regulation of the pressure acting on the working faces v of the piston by the suspension of removable weights on this piston.

A preferred embodiment is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing which shows avertical; section through a control device according to this invention.

The control device comprises a cylindrical part 1 which is of greater diameter in its upper part and of reduced diameter in its lower part 16.

The control device is connected in the line between a line 27" leading to the coke oven collecting main and the line 28 for feed of ammoniacalv liquor, on the one hand, and the line 12, for leading the towns water, on the other hand.

Arranged in the substantially cylindrical coupling con duit part 1 of this device is a sleeve 2 made of a C01.- rosion-resistant steel which is not subject to attack by ammoniacal substances. At its lower end, this sleeve 2 is mounted on an inwardly-directed flange 3 of thecoupling conduit part 1, with the interposition of a suitable packing 4, and carries, at its upper end, an inwardly extending abutment ring 5 which is fastened down firmly by the ammoniacal liquor inlet conduit connection or curved pipe section 37, likewise with the intermediary of a packing 6 therebetween. The necessary compression is produced by screws 7 which clamp together flanges provided on the primary inlet pipe section 37 and the 3 cylindrical coupling conduit body part 1. The sleeve 2 is thus readily accessible for replacement.

Slidable in the sleeve 2 is the flow controlling means a piston 8 having on its upper part piston rings 9 for ensuring fluid-tight displacement. The pressure of the ammoniacal liquor passing through the primary inlet pipe bend 37 acts on the piston face 10 of piston 8.

Opening into the cylindrical body part 1 intermediate its ends is a pipe section 11, this secondary inlet connection being branched off and connected to the pipe 12 from the towns water. The lower part of the piston below the rings 9, i. e. that part located at the towns water feed end, is of somewhat reduced outer diameter than the upper part, providing a lower tubular extension 15 and an upper annular outwardly offset shoulder 13 below rings 9 on which shoulder the pressure of the towns water, supplied from pipe section 11 through a lower annular channel 14 in part 1, acts. This lower channel 14 is defined between the lower tubular extension 15 of the piston 8 and the lower portion of the upper part of the cylinder 1 where this upper part of cylinder 1 adjoins the reduced lower part 16 thereof. The piston extension 15 is furnished with piston rings 17 below channel 14 providing for fluid-tight displacement of piston 8 in the cylinder portion 16.

In the condition illustrated in the drawing the control piston 8 is disposed in its lower dead-centre position, with the lower end of its tubular extension 15 abutting against a flange or shoulder 13 of a drain outlet conduit connection in the form of a drain pipe bend 19 leading away to a drain and connected to the lower end of the reduced lower part 16 of the cylindrical body 1.

The outer side portion of the piston 8 is peripherally recessed at 20 between the upper face 10 and the lower pressure surface shoulder 13 thereof so as to present an intermediate annular groove 20. This groove 20 communicates through openings 21 with the hollow interior 22 of the piston 8 forming the drain element for the flow controlling means.

Provided completely around the guide sleeve 2, above the piston face 10 in the dead center condition illustrated, are a series of outlet ports 23 which furnish communication between the interior of the sleeve 2 and an upper annular outlet channel 24 in the upper part of the cylindrical body 1. This liquid outlet channel 24 forms part of the intermediate outlet conduit connection, and is formed in an outstanding rib on the cylinder 1 and communicates with the rest of the liquid outlet connection in the form of a branch pipe 25. Connected to the latter by pipe 26, which are both also bent-off, is the line 27 leading to the gas collecting main.

The ammoniacal liquor is pumped to the device through the pipe 28 connected to the bent inlet union 37, and is at a pressure such as to maintain the piston 8, against the pressure of the towns water acting on the annular surface 13, in the dead center condition illustrated in the drawing. Thus the ammoniacal liquor from line 28 can flow through the outlet opening means 23 in sleeve 2 and via annular channel 24 and pipes 26 and 27 to the gas collecting main. It has been found satisfactory so to arrange the dimension of the parts, particularly the areas of the pressure surfaces 10 and 13, that an ammoniacal liquor pressure of, say, 2 atmospheres on the piston face 10 preponderates over the towns water pressure, for instance of 6 atmospheres, acting on the surface 13.

To maintain this excess ammoniacal liquor pressure despite any rise in pressure of the towns water supply, weights 30 are hung on the end of a rod 29 secured to the piston head and extending out of the device. The total force acting downwards on the piston head can thus be adjusted by removal or addition of weights. The rod 29 passes through an opening 31 in the drain pipe bend 19, this opening being sealed by a packing gland 32. i

Should the feed by line 28 of ammoniacal liquor cease, the pressure of the towns water from line 12, which acts continuously on the annular piston surface 13, moves the piston 8 into the position indicated in dotted lines, so that the head surface 10 is applied against abutment ring 5. As a result, the lower surface 13 rises above the openings 23 and the towns water supplied through the pipe section 11 is able to flow from around the reduced diameter section 15 through the openings 23 into the channel 24, the pipe 25, and conduits 26 and 27 to the collecting main.

The inlet pipe bend 37 is directly connected to the outlet drain pipe bend 19 through controlled by-pass conduit means in the form of a conduit 33 incorporating a valve 36. This valve 36 is normally closed and is only opened occasionally to allow the control piston 8 to be moved by the pressure of the towns water supply from line 12 and thus prevent the piston becoming seized up or binding after lengthy normal running, i. e. when this piston has not been called upon, over a long period, to operate. In the event of such open operation of valve 36, ammoniacal liquor is by-passed through connecting conduit 33 to drain pipe 19 and the face 10 of the piston is thus partially relieved of pressure.

In addition, controlled liquid inlet means to the drain outlet conduit 19 in the form of a flushing liquid pipe conduit 34 is arranged between the towns water feed pipe 12 and the opening 31. This conduit 34 incorporates a valve 35 which, when opened, allows water under pressure to pass from inlet pipe 12 into the drain pipe outflow conduit 19, for the purpose of cleaning out any deposits therein from obstructing the movement of rod 29.

Should any defect occur in the sealing between the cylindrical wall of the piston 8 and the guide sleeve 2, and as a result ammoniacal liquor from one side 37 or towns water from the other side 11 of the surface 10 be able to penetrate into the annular space 20, such liquid will pass through the communicating openings 21 into the hollow piston interior 22 and be drained off through the outlet drain conduit 19.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for controlling the separate supply of flushing liquid and another liquid under different pressures to the gas collecting main of coke ovens, comprising: a coupling conduit having a primary inlet connection for an inlet line for ammoniacal liquor, a secondary inlet connection for an inlet line for the other liquid, and an outlet connection intermediate the primary and secondary inlet connections; flow-controlling means movable to liquid intercepting positions between each inlet connection and the outlet connection within the parts of said conduit intermediate the inlet connections in response to the difference in pressure of the liquids from the inlet connections, to pass liquid to the outlet connection from each of the inlet connections, while closing off the fiow of liquid to the outlet connection from the other of the inlet connections, when the pressure of liquid from either of the inlet connections predominates; a removable sleeve intermediate the flow controlling means and the parts of the conduit between the inlet connections within which the flow-controlling means moves under the predominance of liquid pressure; a drain connection for connecting the conduit to a drain line; a drain element for drainage from the flow controlling means to the drain connection of liquid that may leak past the flow-controlling means from either inlet connection toward the other inlet connection; a weight suspension rod extending to outside of the conduit and connected with the flow-controlling means for movement therewith, for exterior adjustment of the weight of the flow-controlling means; controlled by-pass conduit means connecting the primary inlet connection with the drain connection for by-passing liquid around the flow-controlling means; and controlled flushing liquid inlet conduit means to the drain connection for flushing out the same.

2. Apparatus for controlling the separate supply of flushing liquid and another liquid under different pressures to the gas-collecting main of coke ovens, comprising: a coupling conduit having a primary inlet connection for an inlet line for ammoniacal liquor, a secondary inlet connection for an inlet line for the other liquid, and an outlet connection intermediate the primary and secondary inlet connections; flow-controlling means movable to liquid intercepting positions between each inlet con nection and the outlet connection within said conduit in response to the difference in pressure of the liquids from the inlet connections, to pass liquid to the outlet connection from each of the inlet connections while closing off the flow of liquid to the outlet connection from the other of the inlet connections, when the pressure of liquid from either of the inlet connections predominates; and a drain element for drainage from the flow-controlling means of liquid that may leak past the flow-controlling means from either inlet conduit connection toward the other inlet conduit connection.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 and in which the primary ammoniacal liquor inlet connection is provided with a valve controlled drain branch to by-pass the flowcontrolling means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 and in which the coupling conduit is also provided with a drain outlet connection for connection to a drain line, said drain outlet connection being arranged to receive drainage from the drain element of the flow-controlling means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and which also includes a controlled flushing liquid inlet-conduit means for the drain outlet connection for flushing the same.

6. Apparatus for controlling the separate supply of flushing liquid and another liquid under dilferent pressures to the gas collecting main of coke ovens, comprising: a coupling conduit having a primary inlet connection for an inlet line for ammoniacal liquor, a secondary inlet connection for another inlet line for the other liquid; and an outlet connection intermediate the primary and secondary connections; a self draining piston of hollow form with an external annular space between external opposite working faces arranged within said conduit for movement of the opposite working surfaces in unison together to liquid intercepting position between each inlet connection and the outlet connection, and with one working face acted on by liquid in the primary inlet connection and the other working face acted on by the liquid in the secondary inlet connection, to pass liquid to the outlet connection from each of the inlet connections while closing off the flow of liquid to the outlet connection from the other of the inlet connections, when the pressure of liquid from either of the inlet connections predominates on their working faces; said annular space being in communication with the hollow interior of the piston for drainage away from the primary and secondary inlet connections of liquid that may leak past said opposite working surfaces.

7. Apparatus for controlling the separate supply of flushing liquid and another liquid under difierent pressures to the gas collecting main of coke ovens, comprising: a coupling conduit having a primary inlet connection for an inlet line for ammoniacal liquor, a secondary inlet connection for another inlet line for the other liquid, and an outlet connection intermediate the primary and secondary connections; a control piston with opposite working faces arranged Within said conduit for movement of the opposite working surfaces in unison together to liquid intercepting position between each inlet connection and the outlet connection, and with one working face acted on by liquid in the primary inlet connection and the other working face acted on by liquid in the secondary inlet connection, to pass liquid to the outlet connection from each of the inlet connections While closing off the flow of liquid to the outlet conenction from the other of the inlet connections, when the pressure of liquid from either of the inlet connections predominates on their working faces; and a rod extending from the piston to the exterior of the coupling conduit, said rod being adapted to receive movable weights outside the coupling conduit, for regulation of the pressures imposed on the piston by liquid in said inlet connections.

8. Apparatus for controlling the separate supply of flushing liquid and another liquid under different pressures to the gas collecting main of coke ovens, comprising: a coupling conduit having a primary inlet connection for an inlet line for ammoniacal liquor, a secondary inlet connection for another inlet line for the other liquid, and an outlet connection intermediate the primary and secondary connections; a control piston with opposite working faces arranged within said conduit for movement of the opposite working surfaces in unison together to liquid intercepting position between each inlet connection and the outlet connection, and with one working face acted on by liquid in the primary inlet connection and the other working face acted on by liquid in the secondary inlet connection, to pass liquid to the outlet connection from each of the inlet connections while closing off the flow of liquid to the outlet connection from the other of the inlet connections, when the pressure of liquid from either of the inlet connections predominates on their working faces; and an inner sleeve of corrosion resistant steel for the conduit in the part thereof exposed to ammoniacal liquor from the primary inlet connection wherein the part of the piston acted on by pressure of liquid from the primary inlet connection is arranged to slide.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, and in which the sleeve is removable and replaceable.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, and in which the ammoniacal liquor primary inlet connection is provided with a valve-controlled by-pass drain-conduit which bypasses the control piston.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,606,530 Harris Nov. 9, 1926 1,820,358 MacLean Aug. 25, 1931 1,849,702 Bard May 15, 1932 2,375,914 Gardineer et al May 15, 1945 

